How can I get more copies from my Photoreceptor belt?

Somehow I still get service requests for the Xerox 5090. It’s amazing that the product is still out there making money for the printer. Xerox stopped service on that family of copiers in 2000 with the hopes that the sales force could sell the industry new workhorses. After all, the 61xx family was there to replace the 5090 family. Funny thing was the industry did not want to dump the 5090 if they could get someone reliable to fix the one they had. Every once in a while I get an e-mail asking questions on how to resolve an issue related to the 5390 or 5690 or a question about how to get more life out of their photoreceptors (1R88). All too often the e-mail starts off with something like: I can’t get more than 400,000 or 500,000 impressions from a photoreceptor belt. Is there anything I can do to get more service from the brown belts? And the answer is a resounding yes. There are several things that must be done to get the mileage out of the photoreceptor belt.

The Internet is an amazing source of information and tools for almost anything you might need. So, with a little luck and patience, check out the Internet. If you are replacing photoreceptor belts prematurely and they are failing before 700,000 to 800,000 impressions then your 5090 may need some serious attention. The first thing you must have to service any copier is a service manual and the 5090 is no different. Sure you may have a deep understanding of the working mechanism but it’s impossible to memorize every adjustment in the book. I don’t care what your IQ level is, or how many machines you fix, or how much you are saving your boss by doing the service yourself. There is no way to effectively fix this box unless you have the right tools.

Refurbishing the Optics Cavity

Probably the most important starting point is the platen glass / flash lamp area. I have discovered that refurbishing the optic cavity eliminated all my Xerographic faults.

Start the refurbishing process with the optics tub. Remove the platen glass (90P411) and examine it for any signs of abrasion or discoloration. If the platen glass even looks like it has seen better days, replace it.

Purchase high quality latex flat white paint from your local paint store that is exterior grade and highly reflective. You will be able to paint the optics tub three times from a quart of this paint. Or you can spend $ 200.00 on Xerox white paint for barely one coat of paint. The choice is yours. Next, purchase a small quality bristle roller (2” inch roller) to apply the paint.

Before you start painting the tub, remove the flash lamp holders (113K842), light shields (55K4312) and the cavity bottom panel (600K36550). Wash the interior of the optics cavity with a mild soap solution like Formula A and allow it to dry.

Protect the optic lens with a heavy piece of paper before you begin painting. When the optic cavity is completely painted, let it dry overnight to ensure it is totally dried. Don’t forget to paint the cavity bottom panel and the light shields and set them aside to dry as well.

In the morning, replace both flash lamps (600K36540) and replace the two cooling tubes (52E313) because they are probably discolored and or contaminated in some way. Wear a pair of examining gloves while replacing all the parts in the optics cavity. The oil from your hands may contaminate the flash lamps, for example, and cause them to fail. If you hear a loud “POP” when the machine is printing it could be one of the flash lamps exploding. If the lamp explodes, the cooling tube will capture the flash lamp debris thereby containing the mess. Next time you replace a flash lamp use the gloves and wash down the flash lamp (envelope) with a soft cloth damp and film remover (8R27).

Next step is to replace the photoreceptor belt (1R88) with a new one before you run the Xerographic program to break in the new belt. As you replace the photoreceptor belt take note of the developer housing assembly to ensure that it is in good condition and is clean. Check the developer and make sure it has less than 500,000 impressions on it. If you’re not sure how old it is, replace the developer (5R161) with a fresh batch.

Remove all dicorotron housings and replace the five dicorotron wires (48K56790). Re-install the housings and run Xerographics.

If the dicorotron housings are within factory specifications (height adjustments), you should be good to go and your 09-xxx system failures will be gone. This procedure will work for any Xerox 5090, 5390, or 5690 (with or without the interposer).

The last step is to execute the Xerographic set up program and let it run to its completion to break in the new belt, developer and the new paint job. Don’t be surprised if you have to start the Xerographic program three or four times before it runs through the entire program to its completion. Good luck.

As always, if you have a question or concern please contact me and I will assist in any way I can. I can be reached by e-mail at: VillagecopierNY@AOL.COM.